Starting a Business - Armenia

No restrictions on foreign ownership or control; 100% foreign-owned companies are fully permitted. Armenian law does not restrict foreign nationals from establishing, acquiring, or disposing of business interests, and profits may be freely repatriated after tax obligations are met.

No minimum share capital is required for an LLC (the dominant business form) or a Closed Joint-Stock Company (CJSC). Open Joint-Stock Companies (OJSCs) require AMD 1 million (~USD 2,600). No bank deposit of capital is required at the time of registration.

The process involves: (1) checking company name availability; (2) preparing charter and founder documents; (3) submitting application via e-register.am (online) or in person at the State Register Agency. Electronic submissions are processed within one working day; in-person submissions take up to two working days.

Foreign founders must provide a notarized translation of their passport into Armenian — the only additional step compared to domestic founders. No Armenian residency or physical presence is required; non-residents may serve as sole director and shareholder.

State registration of an LLC is free of charge (zero government fee). There are no notarization or stamp-duty fees for standard LLC formation.

The U.S.–Armenia Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), in force since 1996, guarantees U.S. investors treatment no less favorable than Armenian nationals or third-country investors, adding a formal legal backstop for foreign business operations.